For the three-time Asian champions, this will be their third appearance in World Cup. Not bad, considering the fact Iran are a part of the weakest soccer continent on earth.
This time, they have a young team. But experts feel this is one of their finest teams ever to have come out from their country. Hopes will be high for a place in the second round.
But for them to turn that dream into reality, they have to ensure that they beat Angola in Group D and snatch a point from Mexico. There is no way they can ever earn a point against Portugal.
COMPLETE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Mirzapour Ebrahim, Roudbarian Hassan, Talebloo Vahid
Defenders: Bakhtiarizadeh Sohrab, Golmohammadi Yahya, Rezaei Rahman, Kaabi Hossein, Zare Sattar, Sadeqi Amir Hossein, Nosrati Mohammad
Midfielders: Mahdavikia Mehdi, Nekounam Javad, Zandi Ferydoon, Karimi Ali, Teymourian Andranik, Madanchi Mehrzad, Shojaei Masoud
Forwards: Hashemian Vahid, Daei Ali, Khatibi Rasoul, Borhani Arash, Enayati Reza, Kazemeian Javad.